Sign Out Youth Cafe Launches Autumn Programme
Sign Out Youth Cafe is open every Friday from 7pm to 9.30pm as well as Tuesday lunchtime as a drop in space for all 15 to 18 year olds. Membership is €10 per annum and covers insurance for all workshops and events taking place during the year. To kick start the new year a teambuilding trip during October is in the pipeline for members to Lilliput Outdoor Education Centre, if you are interested please give your names to Tony by Tues. 11th October. Approximate cost depending on numbers will be €20, which includes transport and all activities.

As well as the twice weekly drop in facility Cupla Focal i Sign Out facilitated by one of the founder members of Sign Out Youth Cafe, Audrey Hogan, runs every Tuesday night from 7pm to 8pm until Christmas. Places are limited and will be given on a first come basis. Come along have fun brush on your oral Irish skills, enjoy the special events, ceilis, quizzes and lots more. €2 per night -membership of €10 has to be paid on registration.

On the 22nd and 23rd October Song School - Song writing and music weekend workshop will be held in Sign Out Youth Cafe for all 13 to 19 year olds. Join a team of professionals to write, create, perform & record your song at a Weekend Music & Multimedia Workshop. Pre-Booking essential @ 0876779267. Cost €35. Bring instruments. As part of Waterways Ireland/Failte Ireland Discovery Day in Portumna on the Sunday, a musical performance will be held at 3.30pm, be the first to hear the new songs and fresh recordings created during the weekend Songschool workshop. Over the mid term break a 2 Day Graffiti Workshop will run on Tues. 1st and Wed. 2nd Nov. Continuing on from our previous workshop, guided by Nik of BlowDesign, transform the interior and exterior of Sign Out Youth Cafe by creating murals and graffiti. Cost €25. Both workshops are filling fast, to avoid disappointment get your name down as soon as possible by contacting 087 6779267 or 086 2051346.

For the more sporty, an U18 soccer tournament will take place on Sign Out All Weather Pitch over the mid term, entry forms available in Sign Out Youth Cafe.

Sign Out Youth Cafe committee would like to invite you to their Open Day on Tuesday 18th Oct from 3.30pm to 7pm all are welcome to pop in, view the facilities, find out about up and coming events, have a cuppa and meet the team.
Along with a host of activities planned for Sunday Oct 23rd., Sign Out Youth Project committee invite you to join former hurler Vincent Treacy for a Caman Abu introductory Session on the All Weather Pitch from 3pm to 4pm. Caman Abu is a new concept in social and recreational hurling for adults catering for all abilities and fitness levels. All welcome to come along, all equipment provided. For more information on any of the above contact Susan on 087 6779267 or log onto www.signout.ie

Ann Heagney Retirement
The Portumna/Gort Community Mental Health services have lost to retirement one of their most valued team members namely Ann Heagney to retirement. After over 30 years of service to Community Mental Health, Ann is bowing out.

Ann trained in Limerick and then pursued her studies in England and gaining further experience in the area of Mental Health. She returned to the Mid Western Health Services as a Manager in a Day Hospital in Limerick where she stayed for another 15 years. Limericks loss was Portumna's gain when Ann and her family relocated here 8 years ago. Ann has been worked with the local Portumna/Gort Community Mental Health Team as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Behavioural Therapy. Her focus was not only on her family and work but she also had time to be an enthusiastic local Community Volunteer with Portumna Mental Health Ass, Lyons Club, Health Forum, and was instrumental in setting up the Portumna Mental Health Carers Support Group.

Ann through her work has always focused on her clients and their families in Portumna and Gort. She had great working relationships with all the local G.P's who will miss her wisdom and charm. Her crafted one liners were sure to bring a smile to any day. All her work colleagues made a presentation to Ann on Friday 23rd Sept after lunch in the Modena restaurant. The teams loss is her families gain and we wish her health and happiness in her retirement.

Portumna Camera Club
The AGM of Portumna Camera Club will be held on Tuesday 11th October 2011 at 8pm in the Retirement Village. New members are always welcome. We meet every second Tuesday of the month. For further info contact Mary on 087 9598291.

Pink Ribbon Day
Pink Ribbon Day (October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month) will take place on Friday 7th. October at various locations around Portumna. There will also be merchandise placed in various retail outlets. Please support. Volunteers needed for that day. If you have an hour or two to spare, please contact Marie Gunning on 087-2358585.

ConTempo String Quartet Concert in Church of Ireland
ConTempo String Quartet, Galway's Resident Classical Quartet will return to Portumna for an evening concert on Monday, Oct 17th at 8pm in the Church of Ireland, Portumna. This is part of the group's 2011 Outreach Programme and Portumna Arts Group are delighted to host the visit. The quartet played to a packed lunchtime audience at the Library on their last visit. Earlier on Monday, the group will conduct free workshops with music students at Portumna's Communty School. With a programme designed to entertain and introduce classical music, this concert suits all age groups and families. Sponsored by Galway Co Council Arts Office, the event is free. Bring a cushion, a friend, relax and enjoy.

Maple Poetry Group to Host an Informal Reading
As part of Waterways Ireland/Failte Ireland Discovery Day in Portumna on Sunday, Oct 23rd., the Maple Poetry Group will host an informal reading in Horan's Bar, Portumna at 12 noon, where poets, bards and writers are welcome to read and recite a poem of their choice.

Fun Cycle to Support Local Charities
Portumna & District Lions Club are running a Fun Cycle to support local charities on Sunday 16th October, The starting point is from the square, Portumna. Sponsor cards can be got from any lions club member or contact the mobile number 087 1524200. There are no entry fees, the sponsorcard is for only €2.00 per line. The route is from the square out the Woodford road to Killeen, then up that road to McDonaghs pub and back to the square via the Tynagh road.

Presentation of Michael O'Shea Memorial Trophy will take place after the cycle. Prizes for funniest bike, best individual / club fund raised, best under 18 fundraiser.

Portumna Bingo
Why not grab an extra €3,650 for Xmas this week and join us at portumna bingo!! Every Saturday at 8pm, Portumna Town Hall.

Portumna and District Active Retirement Association
This Thursday 6th October we have two speakers, Julie Craig an expert on gentle healthy exercise and John Smith who is proposing a sketch that we might have ready for Christmas. So please try and come for 8 o'clock sharp, as we shall have a busy night.

Davitts Camogie Club
Davitt's senior team booked their placed in this year's county semi-final with a great victory over Mullagh on a final scorelne of Davitt's 2-8 to Mullagh 0-9. Davitts lead at half time on a scoreline of 2-5 to 0-3 and produced an excellent display in the second half to emerge deserving winners. They now face either Pearses or Athenry in the county semi final. Davitts team on the day was: Sinead Donohue, Orla Watson, Ailbhe Kelly, Lizzie Flynn, Laura Shiel, Elaine Brudar, Lisa Shiel, Lorraine Farrell, Edel Dervan 1-0, Amy Murphy 1-0, Clare Killeen, Mary Kelly, Lourda Kavanagh 0-6, Linda Gohery, Maria Breheny 0-1. Subs: Claire Ryan for Mary Kelly, Aine Dervan 0-1 for Lisa Shiel, Mary Kelly for Clare Killeen.

The club will also be holding a collection of unwanted clothes, shoes, handbags ,bed linen ,towels etc and mobile phones on Saturday 29th Oct at the club house in Duniry between 10am-12pm. All contributions would be greatly appreciated.

Portumna GAALotto: There was no winner of last week-ends lotto jackpot. The numbers drawn were 12 15 18 19. Three people matched three numbers Mike Goode, Phil O Donnell and Michael O Hare. They each receive €35.

Under 13s: Well done to our U13 hurlers on reaching the quarter final stages of the competition with a good win over Kinvara in the quarter final last Sunday evening. Davey O Meara opened the scoring for Portumna with a pointed free with Jack Canning 0-1 and Jason Madden 1-0 the other two Portumna scorers to get on the scoreboard in the first half with Kinvara's only score of the first half coming from a free. Portumna upped the ante in the second half and goals from Davey O Meara 1-0 Jack Canning 1-0 Jason Madden 1-0 and Sean O Brien 3-0 with Portumna's third point coming from Canning gave them a good win to reach the semi final stages of the competition. In fairness the score did not do justice to Kinvara who battled on to the end and added 1-1 to their first half tally.

Under 16s: Best of luck to our under 16 hurlers and management this week-end in the County final. This game was cancelled last week-end due to weather conditions.

Senior: Best of luck to our senior hurlers and management when they play St Thomas in the quarter final at the week-end. Check fixture list for time venue and date.

Ireland Reaching Out 2012Ireland Reaching Out poised for Countrywide Expansion: After a hugely successful launch year, Ireland XO is now embarking on year two which includes programme expansion within and outside of County Galway.

Building on the success of last year's launch programme, the Ireland XO project will have its 2011/2012 launch meeting this coming Wednesday Oct 12th at the Loughrea Spa & Hotel at 8.30pm. The evening will consist of a short review of the Ireland XO 2010/2011 programme including parish volunteer feedback on last year's activities and from Week of Welcome participants. Much progress has been made since the summer break and reports on this progress and a sneak preview of the new Ireland XO website will be presented by the Ireland XO team - including some new faces to be introduced!

The evening will also include reports on discussions being held with government agencies on the national expansion of Ireland XO and a report from the second Farmleigh II meeting where the Ireland Reaching Out project will be represented by Ireland XO Chairman Mike Feerick and David McWilliams. To round off the evening's proceedings, David McWilliams will address the meeting with some reflections on the programmes progress and some lighter comments on the Irish economy. Also attending the meeting will be representatives from parish communities across Ireland who have expressed interest in launching Ireland XO in their areas. Parishes from the counties of Mayo, Cork, Kerry, Waterford and Donegal among other counties will be represented.

All parish volunteers, current and new and those interested in the project are invited to attend. As we are expecting a sizable attendance for this 2012 kick-off event, please email the Ireland XO team at info@irelandxo.com or call to RSVP at the office number phoning (091) 842013 if you wish to attend.

Host a Parish: As we are expecting guests from parishes from Mayo, Cork, Kerry, Waterford and Donegal as well as other counties, we are asking the South-East Galway parishes to host visitors at a reception from 7.30pm on Oct 12th. If you would be willing to host a parish delegation from outside of the area, please let us know. We would simply like each volunteer parish to discuss with our visitors how the project developed in their area over the past year. Your parish does not have to have had a visitor for the Week of Welcomes event to be a host on the evening!

Car Boot Sale
The Town Hall Committee hope to run a number of Car Boot Sales (without the Car) in the Hall on the run up to Christmas. The first one is scheduled for Sunday 13th November. Space is restricted (20 Max) @ €20 per unit. For further details contact Johnny Cowan 087 2430864 or Jim Hynes 087 6411711